Open AccessWork systems analysis of sterile processing: decontamination
Author(s) -
Myrtede Alfred,
Ken Catchpole,
Emily Huffer,
Larry Fredendall,
Kevin Taaffe
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
bmj quality and safety
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.53
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 2044-5423
pISSN - 2044-5415
DOI - 10.1136/bmjqs-2019-009422
Subject(s) - human decontamination , work (physics) , medicine , patient safety , tray , operations management , risk analysis (engineering) , process (computing) , medical emergency , computer science , process management , engineering , health care , mechanical engineering , pathology , economics , economic growth , operating system
Few studies have explored the work of sterile processing departments (SPD) from a systems perspective. Effective decontamination is critical for removing organic matter and reducing microbial levels from used surgical instruments prior to disinfection or sterilisation and is delivered through a combination of human work and supporting technologies and processes.